By Austin Ogwuda
THE Federal Government says there is no funding to actualize the construction of two bypasses from both Onitsha and Asaba ends linking the Second Niger Bridge as the final phase of the Second Niger Bridge project.
The Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, while appearing before the Joint Senate and House Committee on Works to defend the budget of his ministry, Monday, disclosed that the remaining two Bypasses in Asaba (2A) and Onitsha (2B) were awarded to Julius Berger Nigeria Plc and Reynods Construction Company Nigeria Limited respectively, during the last Administration was initially estimated at about N200 billion but now with inflation, the cost may be up to N260 billion.
“There is no funding for these projects and the projects have not taken off. Let me note that without these Bypasses, the completed 2nd Niger Bridge will be almost inoperative”, Umahi stated.
The latest development is rasing dust as persons, whose land were acquired to create Right of Way (ROW) for the Second Niger Bridge (Phases 2A and 2B) have been agitated following the non payment of compensations, now triggered by Umahi’s lamentation over funding.
Recall that on the 2nd of December last year these affected persons from Delta State and neighbouring Anambra State protested in Asaba against what they called Fashola’s inhumanity and reckless abandonment.
Agbavobor Thomas who spoke on behalf of the group, accused Fashola (then Works Minister) of frustrating compensation by Federal Government and urged President (then) Muhammadu Buhari to pay them without further delay.
“Five years ago, Federal Government came and acquired our property for the construction of Second Niger Bridge and promised payment of compensation, but till date nothing good has been done.
“Recently, we started hearing about plans being made by Federal Government to commission the bridge with a claim by the minister that the project is 95 per cent per cent completed and that phase 2A, Okwe-Okpanam, is left with 4km due to flooding.
“We left the property for them and they demolished most of them in the course of construction, they brought compensation form, we filled and they took our bank details for the payment of compensation.
“We want to let the President know we have not been compensated till date. They did enumeration and valued our property, we went to the Ministry of Works and did all necessary documentation, not knowing that Fashola had plans not to pay us.
“Now, our property have been vandalised, our land have been acquired by Federal Government without compensation, turning us to tenants”, they lamented.
*Watch out for News Analysis on the politics of Second Niger Bridge*
